diff --git a/tests/fixtures/layouts/sql-build-error.yaml b/tests/fixtures/layouts/sql-build-error.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d3a7f2f49b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/layouts/sql-build-error.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+- pipeline:
+    name: check
+    manager: independent
+    trigger:
+      gerrit:
+        - event: patchset-created
+    success:
+      resultsdb_mysql: null
+      gerrit:
+        Verified: 1
+    failure:
+      resultsdb_mysql: null
+      gerrit:
+        Verified: -1
+
+- job:
+    name: base
+    parent: null
+    run: playbooks/base.yaml
+
+- project:
+    name: org/project
+    check:
+      jobs: []
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_connection.py b/tests/unit/test_connection.py
index cb80a032a2..98048eacfb 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_connection.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_connection.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class TestSQLConnection(ZuulDBTestCase):
         build_table = table_prefix + 'zuul_build'
 
         self.assertEqual(16, len(insp.get_columns(buildset_table)))
-        self.assertEqual(10, len(insp.get_columns(build_table)))
+        self.assertEqual(11, len(insp.get_columns(build_table)))
 
     def test_sql_tables_created(self):
         "Test the tables for storing results are created properly"
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_web.py b/tests/unit/test_web.py
index d32857f74c..200a50e399 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_web.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_web.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import json
 import os
 import urllib.parse
 import socket
+import textwrap
 import time
 import jwt
 
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ import zuul.rpcclient
 
 from tests.base import ZuulTestCase, ZuulDBTestCase, AnsibleZuulTestCase
 from tests.base import ZuulWebFixture, FIXTURE_DIR, iterate_timeout
+from tests.base import simple_layout
 
 
 class FakeConfig(object):
@@ -1119,6 +1121,30 @@ class TestBuildInfo(ZuulDBTestCase, BaseTestWeb):
                                if x["job_name"] == "project-merge"][0]
         self.assertEqual('SUCCESS', project_merge_build['result'])
 
+    @simple_layout('layouts/sql-build-error.yaml')
+    def test_build_error(self):
+        conf = textwrap.dedent(
+            """
+            - job:
+                name: test-job
+                run: playbooks/dne.yaml
+
+            - project:
+                name: org/project
+                check:
+                  jobs:
+                    - test-job
+            """)
+
+        file_dict = {'.zuul.yaml': conf}
+        A = self.fake_gerrit.addFakeChange('org/project', 'master', 'A',
+                                           files=file_dict)
+        self.fake_gerrit.addEvent(A.getPatchsetCreatedEvent(1))
+        self.waitUntilSettled()
+        builds = self.get_url("api/tenant/tenant-one/builds").json()
+        self.assertIn('Unable to find playbook',
+                      builds[0]['error_detail'])
+
 
 class TestArtifacts(ZuulDBTestCase, BaseTestWeb, AnsibleZuulTestCase):
     config_file = 'zuul-sql-driver.conf'
diff --git a/zuul/driver/sql/alembic/versions/16c1dc9054d0_add_error_detail.py b/zuul/driver/sql/alembic/versions/16c1dc9054d0_add_error_detail.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2e5083ab5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zuul/driver/sql/alembic/versions/16c1dc9054d0_add_error_detail.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+"""add error_detail
+
+Revision ID: 16c1dc9054d0
+Revises: 5f183546b39c
+Create Date: 2020-02-25 14:04:56.947095
+
+"""
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = '16c1dc9054d0'
+down_revision = '5f183546b39c'
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+def upgrade(table_prefix=''):
+    op.add_column(
+        table_prefix + 'zuul_build', sa.Column('error_detail', sa.TEXT()))
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    raise Exception("Downgrades not supported")
diff --git a/zuul/driver/sql/sqlconnection.py b/zuul/driver/sql/sqlconnection.py
index b60ea19327..985fd5329e 100644
--- a/zuul/driver/sql/sqlconnection.py
+++ b/zuul/driver/sql/sqlconnection.py
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ class SQLConnection(BaseConnection):
             voting = sa.Column(sa.Boolean)
             log_url = sa.Column(sa.String(255))
             node_name = sa.Column(sa.String(255))
+            error_detail = sa.Column(sa.TEXT())
             buildset = orm.relationship(BuildSetModel, backref="builds")
 
             def createArtifact(self, *args, **kw):
diff --git a/zuul/driver/sql/sqlreporter.py b/zuul/driver/sql/sqlreporter.py
index c6ff1b3ad7..951861cdc0 100644
--- a/zuul/driver/sql/sqlreporter.py
+++ b/zuul/driver/sql/sqlreporter.py
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ class SQLReporter(BaseReporter):
                     voting=build.job.voting,
                     log_url=log_url,
                     node_name=build.node_name,
+                    error_detail=build.error_detail,
                 )
 
                 for provides in job.provides:
diff --git a/zuul/web/__init__.py b/zuul/web/__init__.py
index de2d3a0670..6c3b6a9339 100755
--- a/zuul/web/__init__.py
+++ b/zuul/web/__init__.py
@@ -824,6 +824,7 @@ class ZuulWebAPI(object):
             'voting': build.voting,
             'log_url': build.log_url,
             'node_name': build.node_name,
+            'error_detail': build.error_detail,
             'artifacts': [],
             'provides': [],
         }